Investigators: Fraternity members coerced Coffey, pledges to drink

The Florida State Pi Kappa Phi fraternity pledges had gotten in trouble for drinking in the past and were under a chapter liquor ban. But, on the night of Nov. 2, the fraternity’s Executive Council had big plans.

They arranged for Lyft and Uber cars to pick up pledges at the College Avenue fraternity house to take them to a party at 1010 Buena Vista Dr. so they could skirt university and national chapter alcohol policies.

It was “Big Brother Night,” according to court records, a traditionally alcohol-fueled party where new pledges would be introduced to their sponsor and given bottles of liquor to drink.

At the beginning of the party, executive council members had an announcement for the pledges: They were lifting the ban on liquor consumption.

A hearse leaves a home on Buena Vista Drive where Tallahassee Police have launched a criminal investigation into the death of a Florida State student.(Photo: Karl Etters/Democrat)

Andrew Coffey, a 20-year-old from Pompano Beach, died that night at a crowded party after drinking an entire bottle of Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon.

Coffey and his fellow pledges were coerced into drinking to excess with no one monitoring how much they were consuming and no effort to stop them from drinking, according to court documents laying out hazing charges against nine fraternity members, most of whom were in Pi Kappa Phi’s Executive Council.

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“These arrests are the first step in seeking justice for Andrew and his loved ones, and they will inform us on where we need to place our focus as we proceed,” said FSU President John Thrasher in a statement issued Wednesday morning.

“These arrest warrants strengthen our resolve to address the issue of responsible student behavior at Florida State University for the benefit, safety and well-being of our students and the community. Florida State does not tolerate hazing, and we are committed to continuing to combat all unsafe and dangerous practices and behaviors on our campus."

A vigil in memory of Andrew Coffey, a 20-year-old FSU civil engineering student from Pompano Beach, was held at Langford Green on the university's campus Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017. Coffey, a pledge of FSU's Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, died on Friday, Nov. 3, 2017 after an off-campus party. Joe Rondone/Democrat

A vigil in memory of Andrew Coffey, a 20-year-old FSU civil engineering student from Pompano Beach, was held at Langford Green on the university's campus Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017. Coffey, a pledge of FSU's Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, died on Friday, Nov. 3, 2017 after an off-campus party. Joe Rondone/Democrat

A vigil in memory of Andrew Coffey, a 20-year-old FSU civil engineering student from Pompano Beach, was held at Langford Green on the university's campus Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017. Coffey, a pledge of FSU's Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, died on Friday, Nov. 3, 2017 after an off-campus party. Joe Rondone/Democrat

A vigil in memory of Andrew Coffey, a 20-year-old FSU civil engineering student from Pompano Beach, was held at Langford Green on the university's campus Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017. Coffey, a pledge of FSU's Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, died on Friday, Nov. 3, 2017 after an off-campus party. Joe Rondone/Democrat

A vigil in memory of Andrew Coffey, a 20-year-old FSU civil engineering student from Pompano Beach, was held at Langford Green on the university's campus Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017. Coffey, a pledge of FSU's Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, died on Friday, Nov. 3, 2017 after an off-campus party. Joe Rondone/Democrat

A vigil in memory of Andrew Coffey, a 20-year-old FSU civil engineering student from Pompano Beach, was held at Langford Green on the university's campus Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017. Coffey, a pledge of FSU's Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, died on Friday, Nov. 3, 2017 after an off-campus party. Joe Rondone/Democrat

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Ravelo “directly and indirectly pressured or coerced Coffey to consume alcohol in keeping with the tradition of the big-little celebration,” investigators wrote. “These acts committed by Ravelo encouraged Coffey’s excessive consumption of alcohol and resulted in Coffey’s death in violation of the hazing statute.”

Coffey wasn’t the only one who illegally drank to excess at the insistence of the fraternity’s executive council, Tallahassee Police investigators found. The 21 underage pledges at the initiation celebration were all encouraged to drink to excess.

The party was organized by the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity executive council for the sole purpose of getting underage pledges drunk, investigators said. Several witnesses characterized the party as the most intoxicated they had ever seen the pledge class.

Several people told investigators there was an expectation that the bottle given to a little brother be consumed in its entirety. Big brothers were also tasked with taking care of their little brothers once they got drunk.

Although pledges were not physically forced to drink, “it is clear the environment created by the leaders and fraternity members led to an expectation of abusive drinking or the pledges would face ostracism by the group," court records said.

After Coffey drank the bottle of bourbon he passed out on a futon on the house’s front porch. Kluttz, Ravelo and another fraternity member carried him inside to a couch where they turned him on his side and left him snoring.

Ravelo went home, leaving Coffey, who was found unresponsive several hours later and pronounced dead.

During his autopsy, state Medical Examiner Lisa Flannagan found the previously-healthy, 6-feet tall, 200-pound Coffey had a blood alcohol level of 0.447. But at the time of his death, it was likely higher — 0.558, or nearly seven times the legal limit to drive.

The charges against the nine students send a message that FSU does not tolerate hazing and takes the allegations as a serious part of making changes for the benefit of students, Thrasher said in his statement.

"The grand juries have been very helpful to our work, and we appreciate the State Attorney’s efforts," Thrasher said. "Clearly, he is taking this matter just as seriously as we are. We hope all members and alumni of our Greek organizations are paying attention.”

Contact Karl Etters at ketters@tallahassee.com or @KarlEtters on Twitter.